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Good morning, Destin! In today’s edition: Bear spotted on an airport runway, new fish-attracting devices for anglers, a winter wonderland with real snow, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Shoreline destination showcased: A December 29 article spotlights a new park property on Holiday Island in Destin, Florida, with a video look at the site. County channels share background on the project — watch the site video.
Costly project targets pelagics: Okaloosa County has deployed fish attracting devices closer to shore, giving anglers in smaller boats new spots. One device was set 25 miles offshore, and 19 are in Gulf waters — see costs and deployment details.
Curious climber retreats to woods: In a foggy airport encounter, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office shared a photo of a black bear on the airfield after a deputy’s spotlight ended its airport roam — see how it unfolded.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Savor a weekend celebration: The Foodees Food and Culture Festival will be held at the Destin/Fort Walton Beach Fairgrounds Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, 2026, featuring more than 40 gourmet food trucks, handmade arts and crafts, and family friendly entertainment. Admission is free, and organizers are asking attendees to register for free tickets. Get all the details.
Hands-on science fix: When cabin fever hits, Emerald Coast Science Center delivers kid-approved tinkering and adult-friendly curiosity: a hurricane simulator, robotics, a room-sized sciPad for collaborative games, friendly resident critters, and periodic planetarium nights. It’s an easy local reset that feels fun, not homework.
Baja burrito vibes: If your week needs a pick-me-up wrapped in a tortilla, Burrito del Sol serves fresh, Baja-style builds with options like chipotle, southwest, BBQ, or classic baja, plus slow-roasted meats and blackened shrimp that quietly steals the show. A tasty detour between errands.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🧘 Toned Butts & Donuts – Pilates @ Heirloom Donuts – SoWal | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – Santa Rosa Beach’s most responsible decision: work your glutes, then earn the glaze. Aly Gray of FIT30A runs a Pilates sculpt at Heirloom Donuts, followed by coffee, fresh donuts, and well-deserved smugness. All levels, bring friends, call it balance.
🦂 Scorpions Tribute @ Club LA | Friday (1/9) at 7:00 PM – Whether you’ve been humming Wind of Change since ’91 or want to rock like a hurricane again, this Scorpions tribute delivers Big City Nights energy, big riffs, and bigger choruses. It’s partially seated, so you can rest knees, sip something cold, and scream along.
🎭 The Edwards Twins @ The Palms of Destin Resort & Conference Center | Friday (1/9) at 7:00 PM – Whether you still hum along to Sonny and Cher or just miss big hair and bigger choruses, The Edwards Twins deliver a Vegas-caliber tribute in Destin, all live vocals. Elton, Stevie, Barbra, and more appear, like magic, without the airport lines.
❄ Winter Wonderland @ The Village of Baytowne Wharf | Saturday (1/10) at 9:00 AM – Baytowne Wharf is importing the stuff we usually see in Publix freezers, with real snow piling up for a family-friendly morning. It’s free, festive, and mercifully close to coffee, so bundle up, let the kids go feral, and enjoy a Florida “powder day.”
🥞 Saturday Brunch @ Jake and Henry’s | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Whether you’re here for crispy bacon or a smarter outlook, this relaxed Saturday brunch delivers both. Settle in with good coffee, real conversation, and an educational presentation from 2 Star Presidential Dr. Staci Holweger. Grown-up weekend vibes, zero pretense, plenty of refills.
✨ A Crafternoon Social @ Salt & Story, LLC | Sunday (1/11) at 2:00 PM – Remember when we covered our textbooks in grocery bags? This is like that, but with taste, glitter, and good company. Spend an easy afternoon bedazzling a book, swapping stories, and leaving with something sparkly and shiny you’ll actually put on the coffee table.
🌼 Among the Wildflowers @ Painting with a Twist | Sunday (1/11) at 4:00 PM – Think you know every Tom Petty chorus? This tribute rolls through the hits with plenty of sing-alongs, jangly guitars, and just enough nostalgia to make you text your high school friend. Grab a drink, hum along, and feel improbably 25, if only for a few songs.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📣 Own or manage a local business?
Meet BaseLocal Business — a free and easy way to get your business happenings in front of our readers.
How it works:
- Sign up (it takes less than 5 minutes)
- We’ll manually verify your business is legit
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Everything you share is reviewed, and approved submissions are automatically considered for future newsletters. AKA… your business has a much higher chance of being featured in front of thousands of Destin locals who live, shop, eat, and share good things with their friends.
We also regularly spotlight verified businesses just because we think they’re great.
Click here to get started (it’s free) →
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📻 Destin report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 69°F – Low: 64°F – Precip: 18%
Areas of fog before 9am, then a slight chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Southeast wind 0 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
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Tomorrow – High: 70°F – Low: 67°F – Precip: 27%
A chance of rain showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: A chance of rain showers before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
This house is wild
In Crystal Beach in Destin, 71 Dolphin Street is a three-story contemporary coastal retreat with amenities. Eight bedrooms and eight and a half baths span 5,889 square feet. A 60,000-gallon pool anchors the backyard with a sunken swim-up bar, spa, summer kitchen, and entertainment zones. The open plan centers on a chef’s kitchen with high-end appliances, cabinetry, and a large island, plus a game room with a wet bar. An elevator connects all levels.
Beach access sits where Dolphin Street ends, roughly 175 yards from the front door. Proximity to the Gulf means easy sugar-white sand strolls and sunset views. Designed for versatility with proven rental performance.
Take a peek inside →
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